Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki

Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki was a former estate of the Stroganov and Golitsyn families of the Russian nobility. Today, it is incorporated into Kuzminki-Lyublino historical park located in the Kuzminki District, Moscow. The estate was named after the Theotokos Vlakhernskaya, a copy of which was placed in the local church.

History

In 1702 Peter the Great bestowed the estate to Grigori Stroganov. The buildings were erected here after the death of the first owner in 1714. His son, Alexander, managed estate construction; in 1754 his widow became the sole owner. After the marriage of her daughter Anna in 1757 with Prince Mikhail Golitsyn (1731-1804), property passed to Golitsyn family. From 1833 Vlakhernskoye-Kuzminki was a part of Golitsyns mayorate. In 1889 a part of the estate was donated to Vlakhernsky hospital. During World War I, the manor house was converted to an officers' hospital.

Manor house

The manor house was rebuilt several times in the second half of the 18th century. Side wings connect to the House with two semi-circular galleries. In the 1830s, the entrance of the manor court was decorated with iron cadelabra and griffins, designed by J. Colombo. The manor house and its western wing burned down in 1916. In the late 1920s, a new building of the Institute of Experimental Veterinary Medicine was built on the spot. The western wing was renovated in the 1950s. The wings of the manor house are operated by the Museum of History of Moscow and are scheduled to display the collection of the Museum of Russian Estate Culture.

Church

The church of the Blachernae Icon of Theotokos is placed in the center of estate. The first wooden church was built here in 1716 by the Stroganovs in the name of the Blachernae Icon, a Stroganov family patron. The construction of a stone church in the Baroque style began at the end of 1750s. In the 1780s, the church was rebuilt in Neoclassical style. In the 19th century, it was rebuilt by Domenico Giliardi and Konstantin Bykovsky.

The church has two side altars dedicated to Saints Alexander Nevsky and Sergius of Radonezh; members of the family of Golitsyn were buried there.

The church was closed in 1929; its utensils were looted, the bell tower ruined and the building itself was badly damaged. The church and the bell tower were rebuilt in 1995 under the guidance of Yelena Vorontsova. In October 1995 the church was consecrated by the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Alexy II.

External links

* [http://www.otdihinfo.ru/photo/124.html Photo (1024x768)]
* [http://www.mospark.ru/parkkzmm.htm Photos]
* [http://www.pycc.ru/7/455_1.html History]
* [http://days.pravoslavie.ru/Hram/120.htm Official site of the church of Vlakhernskaya Icon of the Theotokos]
* [http://lesebuecher.pisem.net/Kuz-1.htm History and map]
* [http://hist-usadba.narod.ru/photo10-5-1.html 1840s paintings of the estate]
* [http://www.kuzminki.myoptimus.com/ Kuzminki - Photo Album] - 310 photos and 113 digital paintings discovering the beauty of Kuzminki (Moscow, Russia) region. (English, Russian)